Researching Holistic Democracy in Schools. A Reponse to Examination of the New Tech Model as a holistic Democracy

Bradley-Levine reported in her article how she created an opportunity to explore research data with the aim of examining the degree to which New Tech schools were democratic in the sense conceptualized by the notion of holistic democracy. My response is in three parts. The first sets out my understanding of the significance of the model of holistic democracy and the purpose of the framework. The second is a review of Bradley-Levine’s findings, with reflections that occurred to me as I worked through these. The third comprises my conclusions. The framework has been applied, in my judgement, in a diligent and systematic way, enabling the creation of a profile of schools showing where indicators of holistic democracy are present and where critical inquiry and further research and reflective dialogue would be worthwhile. My review of Bradley-Levine’s account and analysis also suggests that further work on the conceptual clarity of the framework would be helpful in improving its usefulness

Distributed Leadership: A Review of Literature

A review of empirical research studies of distributed leadership from public and private sector settings completed since 1995

Authority, Power and Distributed Leadership

This is the Accepted Manuscript version of an article accepted for publication in Management and Education following peer review. The version of record, Philip Woods, ‘Authority, power and distributed leadership’, Management and Education, Vol 30(4): 155-160, first published online 28 September 2016, is available online via doi: 10.1177/0892020616665779 © 2016 British Educational Leadership, Management & Administration Society (BELMAS) Published by SAGE.A much greater understanding is needed of power in the practice of distributed leadership. This article explores how the concept of social authority might be helpful in achieving this. It suggests that the practice of distributed leadership is characterized by multiple authorities which are constructed in the interactions between people. Rather than there being a uniform hierarchy (relatively flat or otherwise) of formal authority, organizational members may be ‘high’ in some authorities and ‘low’ in others, and people’s positioning in relation to these authorities is dynamic and changeable. The article maps different forms of authorities, provides illustrations from educational institutions, and concludes with implications for educational leadership. A key conclusion is that everyone is involved in the ongoing production of authorities by contributing to who is accepted as or excluded from exercising authority and leadershipPeer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

The effects of technology use in postsecondary education: A meta-analysis of classroom applications

This meta-analysis is a study of the experimental literature of technology use in postsecondary education from 1990 up to 2010 exclusive of studies of online or distance education previously reviewed by Bernard et al. (2004). It reports the overall weighted average effects of technology use on achievement and attitude outcomes and explores moderator variables in an attempt to explain how technology treatments lead to positive or negative effects. Out of an initial pool of 11,957 study abstracts, 1105 were chosen for analysis, yielding 879 achievement and 181 attitude effect sizes after pre-experimental designs and studies with obvious methodological confounds were removed. The random effects weighted average effect size for achievement was g+ = 0.27, k = 879, p \u3c.05, and for attitude outcomes it was g+ = 0.20, k = 181, p \u3c.05. The collection of achievement outcomes was divided into two sub-collections, according to the amount of technology integration in the control condition. These were no technology in the control condition (k = 479) and some technology in the control condition (k = 400). Random effects multiple meta-regression analysis was run on each sub-collection revealing three significant predictors (subject matter, degree of difference in technology use between the treatment and the control and pedagogical uses of technology). The set of predictors for each sub-collection was both significant and homogeneous. Differences were found among the levels of all three moderators, but particularly in favor of cognitive support applications. There were no significant predictors for attitude outcomes. © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Laparoscopic repair of very large hiatus hernia with sutures versus absorbable mesh versus nonabsorbable mesh a randomized controlled trial

Author version made available in accordance with pubilsher policy. 12 month embargo applies from the date of publication (1 Feb 2015).Objective: Determine whether absorbable or non-absorbable mesh in repair of large hiatus hernias reduces the risk of recurrence, compared to suture repair. Summary Background Data: Repair of large hiatus hernia is associated with radiological recurrence rates of up to 30%, and to improve outcomes mesh repair has been recommended. Previous trials have shown less short term recurrence with mesh, but adverse outcomes limit mesh use. Methods: Multicentre prospective double blind randomized controlled trial of 3 methods of repair; sutures vs. absorbable mesh vs. non-absorbable mesh. Primary outcome - hernia recurrence assessed by barium meal X-ray and endoscopy at 6 months. Secondary outcomes - clinical symptom scores at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Results: 126 patients enrolled - 43 sutures, 41 absorbable mesh and 42 non-absorbable mesh. 96.0% were followed to 12 months, with objective follow-up data in 92.9%. A recurrent hernia (any size) was identified in 23.1% following suture repair, 30.8% - absorbable mesh, and 12.8% - non-absorbable mesh (p=0.161). Clinical outcomes were similar, except less heartburn at 3 & 6 months and less bloating at 12 months with non-absorbable mesh, and more heartburn at 3 months, odynophagia at 1 month, nausea at 3 & 12 months, wheezing at 6 months, and inability to belch at 12 months following absorbable mesh. The magnitude of the clinical differences were small. Conclusions: No significant differences were seen for recurrent hiatus hernia, and the clinical differences were unlikely to be clinically significant. Overall outcomes following sutured repair were similar to mesh repair

s-wave resonances for the 18F(p, a)15O reaction in novae

The 18F(p,$\alpha$) reaction determines the rate of destruction of 18F in novae. It represents the key nuclear physics uncertainty in modelling the calculated flux of annihilation radiation emitted following the radioactive decay of 18F. The major uncertainties relate to states representing s-wave resonances in the compound system, 19Ne. We report a first study of the 19F(3He, t)19Ne reaction at intermediate energies and forward angles. This reaction has a simple, model-independent, mechanism that we use here to identify states near the proton threshold energy in 19Ne corresponding to $\Delta L=0$ transitions. In particular, we observe a $\Delta L=0$ state at 6.13 MeV which could significantly affect the 18F(p,$\alpha$) astrophysical S-factor at nova burning temperatures

Measurements of proton-induced reactions on ruthenium-96 in the ESR at GSI

8th International Conference on Nuclear Physics at Storage Rings Stori11, October 9-14, 2011 Laboratori Nazionale di Frascati, Italy. Storage rings offer the possibility of measuring proton- and alpha-induced reactions in inverse kinematics. The combination of this approachwith a radioactive beamfacility allows, in principle, the determination of the respective cross sections for radioactive isotopes. Such data are highly desired for a better understanding of astrophysical nucleosynthesis processes like the p-process. A pioneering experiment has been performed at the Experimental Storage Ring (ESR) at GSI using a stable 96Ru beam at 9-11 AMeV and a hydrogen target. Monte-Carlo simulations of the experiment were made using the Geant4 code. In these simulations, the experimental setup is described in detail and all reaction channels can be investigated. Based on the Geant4 simulations, a prediction of the shape of different spectral components can be performed. A comparison of simulated predictions with the experimental results shows a good agreement and allows the extraction of the cross section

Functional Capacity Assessed by the Map Task in Individuals at Clinical High-Risk for Psychosis

Recent studies have recognized that signs of functional disability in schizophrenia are evident in early phases of the disorder, and, as a result, can potentially serve as vulnerability markers of future illness. However, functional measures in the psychosis prodrome have focused exclusively on real-world achievements, rather than on the skills required to carry-out a particular real-world function (ie, capacity). Despite growing evidence that diminished capacity is critical to the etiology of the established disorder, virtually no attention has been directed towards assessing functional capacity in the pre-illness stages. In the present study, we introduce the Map task, a measure to assess functional capacity in adolescent and young-adult high-risk populations

Experiences and perceptions of people with headache: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Few qualitative studies of headache have been conducted and as a result we have little in-depth understanding of the experiences and perceptions of people with headache. The aim of this paper was to explore the perceptions and experiences of individuals with headache and their experiences of associated healthcare and treatment. METHODS: A qualitative study of individuals with headache, sampled from a population-based study of chronic pain was conducted in the North-East of Scotland, UK. Seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults aged 65 or less. Interviews were analysed using the Framework approach utilising thematic analysis. RESULTS: Almost every participant reported that they were unable to function fully as a result of the nature and unpredictability of their headaches and this had caused disruption to their work, family life and social activities. Many also reported a negative impact on mood including feeling depressed, aggressive or embarrassed. Most participants had formed their own ideas about different aspects of their headache and several had searched for, or were seeking, increased understanding of their headache from a variety of sources. Many participants reported that their headaches caused them constant worry and anguish, and they were concerned that there was a serious underlying cause. A variety of methods were being used to manage headaches including conventional medication, complementary therapies and self-developed management techniques. Problems associated with all of these management strategies emerged. CONCLUSION: Headache has wide-ranging adverse effects on individuals and is often accompanied by considerable worry. The development of new interventions or educational strategies aimed at reducing the burden of the disorder and associated anxiety are needed